Hospice cash from Potter's magic

The Queensway tunnel was used during the four-day shoot

The fantasy world of Harry Potter, filmed in one of Liverpool's Mersey tunnels, has helped bring £20,000 to a children's hospice.

Merseytravel has donated the cash to Claire House in Wirral after Warner Brothers paid for use of the Queensway Tunnel.

Film crews used the 3.6km River Mersey underpass for the forthcoming film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The travel firm has been sworn to secrecy about which scene was filmed.

Councillor Mark Dowd, chair of Merseytravel which owns and operates the two Mersey Tunnels, said he was delighted Claire House would "benefit from such an iconic children's character as Harry Potter".

Claire House caters for children and young people aged from birth to 23 years of age who are suffering from a life-limiting or life threatening conditions.

Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel, said: "We arranged for the filming to coincide with the closure of the Queensway Tunnel for routine maintenance.

He said there was confidentiality clause to prevent discussion of filming, but Harry Potter had "weaved his magic for Claire House".